America's Love Of Drive-thrus : 1A : NPR

Drive-thrus are a quintessentially American phenomenon. The first was in the U.S. and they spread quickly nationwide in the mid-20th century due to the rise of car culture and the highway system.Now, estimates suggest there are around 200,000 drive-thrus across the country. They grew in popularity during the pandemic. Drive-thrus have a history of innovation. Fast food companies are experimenting with new technology at their fast food windows, like AI chatbots or elevator food delivery systems that cut out human-to-human interaction.Drive-thrus also offer more than just fast food. Drive-thru funeral homes, banks, and convenience stores save people the step of getting out of their cars.We discuss the history and future of America's drive-thrus.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Highway to sprawl: How I-35 shapes where people live in Austin

New drive-thru light show in Wilmington aims to lift spirits

Inside McDonald's Fraught History With Black America, by Patrick J. Sauer

E.V. Range Anxiety: A Case Study - The New York Times

The $80 Million Acre - Marketplace

In Case You Missed It: Nutrition 101 : 1A : NPR

1A on Apple Podcasts

1A : NPR

Vermont Forest Cemetery in Roxbury is 'like going on a hike

America's Love Of Drive-thrus : 1A : NPR

More than 1 in 3 American adults eat fast food on a given day, CDC survey finds